To the head of PR at Subaru:
First, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Dominick Infante, first I gotta ask, are you a hardcore automotive enthusiast? If so, you'd find yourself disagreeing with yourself. There isn't a fine line between satisfying the hardcore car guy who doesn't by into "Marketing" (coming from a guy that represented Ford Motor Company once on the agency side) and building a car for middle America. You can't do both (unless your M Power, AMG, and S-Audi)...hint, Japanese makers don't do it very well, at least not stateside anyway. Honda killed off the Accord from the Import scene with it's new found mid luxury appeal; the recent generation has been completely absent for nearly a decade (again spoken from someone who had 2 modified Accords). VW killed off the Jetta with yet again it's mid-luxury appeal (and yes, that was my first ever modified car); again the recent generation is completely absent except for the recent induction into the Speed Touring Challenge competition.
And yes, Subaru may have just done the same (or need we not speculate since the blogsphere of Subie enthusiasts who drive the current iteration just told you so). Subie owners are as passionate as APPLE/Mac computer owners. Wow, imagine if Mac took the Windows approach to make more money. Subaru may have also solidified those three letters, I speaking E-V-O language now, as the most desired mid-level priced sedan to import tune. Did I mention that Honda, VW, likely Subie have fallen from the ranks (that's why I snatched up a 4 door Integra to modify). You have to realize no one wants to just modify average looking cars (that thing looks like something KIA could design) otherwise we'd be driving KIA's with Garrett and Edlebrock turbos! The new look as we say isn't "ownable or unique" like the current version for import tuning.
The last nail in the coffin will be the aftermarket. Read again, limited mods for the Jetta, new Accord, Camry, Altima, Fusion, hence why we don't by them and trailer queen them to shows, we don't drift in them, track race them, drag race, or even consider them street racing worthy. The reason your Legacy doesn't sell like hot cakes, is (as I clear my throat), limited mods; I've seen 1 or 2 body kits???? Has Subaru paid attention to current tuner trends; everyone wants widebody fenders - your response - get rid of them; everyone wants a fender well to run 19 inch 255 series tires - your response - eliminate them; everyone wants a car with an aggressive stance - your response - getting the picture?
It's like the record labels pissing off urban/popular culture to satisfy middle America when Pop culture is the influencer, not the influenced.
But I understand, it was a "business" decision. But you may lose your identity as being "authentic." Lastly, all the thing mentioned in the article like more shoulder room, more cargo space, as I laugh out loud, we don't car about that stuff - Read, we gut the interiors for show and race! Oh, and did you opt out of the automotive industry's HORSEPOWER WAR going on? BMW's forthcoming 1 series will have 300 ponies! Time to invest in some trend watching.
Best of luck maintaining the interest of the passionate enthusiasts and we'll see if those sales numbers rack up.
So I'm religiously a SpeedTV addict. Some of you watch the soaps, some of you watch Cable sports packages to catch every game. For me, it's TIVO and every race and custom car show (minus Nascar - it's taking me a while but I'm coming around). So, enter Fine Tuned...a continuation from Tuner Transformation. Tyson hosts, average everyday whips enter, and get JDM'd, Nismo'd, TRD'd, you get the picture. First up was my personal favorite, the invincible 350z, uh, yeah, dubbed Tuner car of the year for 2006. Here's the before shot of the lucky owner's vehicle.
Turbo Mag featured a 1996 Acura NSX that is about as "carbonated" as it gets. That would be carbon fiber trimmings. Now a bit of education from the boys at Turbo, this car represents "dry carbon." Their explanation...."Because the demand for carbon fiber is very strong, cheaper alternatives have been developed, like the so-called "wet carbon." This has absolutely nothing to do with the true "dry-carbon" that is described in the article, as the resulting parts have next to no structural rigidity or any of the qualities usually associated with carbon-fiber parts. Wet carbon is simply made by layering one or two skins of fiber on top of a resin or FRP structure to create the carbon look. After drying, it's then glossed up by either polishing or putting on a few clear coats. Okay, so you get the picture here. The owner, Uchida-san, wanted to create a monster and well he did.
